Divider strip and method of using

ABSTRACT

A divider strip and method of using same which facilitates the provision of seam areas in terrazzo type flooring structures. The divider strip comprises an elongated thin, generally U-shaped body portion including an outwardly extending mounting flange at the distal end of at least one leg of the U. A resilient plastic material is received in the channel area defined by the body portion for maintaining the shape of the strip and for keeping foreign material from entering thereinto during the floor construction work. The strip is desirably mounted by means of the mounting flanges to a base floor in an inverted position and terrazzo flooring material is poured over the base floor on both sides of the divider strip to a level substantially equal to the height of the divider from the base floor. Following pouring, the terrazzo surface is ground smooth and, in the process, the closed end of the U-shaped body portion is ground away to expose the resilient plastic material in the channel area. The plastic may then be removed and the channel area filled with a color impregnated or plain groutlike material in order to complete the seam. The ends of the divider strip include means to facilitate an interfitting locking relationship between the divider and other, similar dividers when they are to be spliced in a straight line end to end relationship.

United States Patent n91 Boiardi l l DIVIDER STRIP AND METHOD OF USING {75] Inventor: Mario J. Boiardi, Cleveland Heights, Ohio [73] Assignee: Boiardi Products Corporation, New

York, NY.

[22] Filed: July 20, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 380,964

Primary ExaminerErnest R. Purser Assistant ExaminerCarl D. Friedman Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Sidney W. Millard Sept. 23, 1975 ABSTRACT A divider strip and method of using same which facilitates the provision of seam areas in terrazzo type flooring structures. The divider strip comprises an elongated thin, generally U-shaped body portion including an outwardly extending mounting flange at the distal end of at least one leg of the U. A resilient plastic material is received in the channel area defined by the body portion for maintaining the shape of the strip and for keeping foreign material from entering thereinto during the floor construction work. The strip is desirably mounted by means of the mounting flanges to a base floor in an inverted position and terrazzo flooring material is poured over the base floor on both sides of the divider strip to a level substantially equal to the height of the divider from the base floor. Following pouring, the terrazzo surface is ground smooth and, in the process, the closed end of the U-shaped body portion is ground away to expose the resilient plastic material in the channel area. The plastic may then be removed and the channel area filled with a color impregnated or plain grout-like material in order to complete the seam. The ends of the divider strip include means to facilitate an interfitting locking relationship between the divider and other, similar dividers when they are to be spliced in a straight line end to end relationship.

4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures DIVIDER STRIP AND METHOD OF USING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention pertains to the art of building construction and more particularly to building floor construction.

The invention is particularly applicable to terrazzo type flooring structures and will be described with particular reference thereto; however, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention has broader applications particularly in the area of other types of flooring structures where seams are desired to be placed thereinto.

Terrazzo type flooring structures are, of course, well known in the construction industry. As used hereinafter, a terrazzo type flooring structure is deemed to refer to a flooring structure comprised of small chips of marble set in cement or the like and then smoothed and polished. In such flooring structures, it is necessary to include a number of seams therein in order to compensate for various changes in conditions such as, for example, abrupt and severe changes in weather or slight movement or settling of the building floor itself. Without these seams, movement of the floor or terrazzo structure by settling, expansion, and/or contraction would cause portions of the floor structure to crack and require repair or replacement.

Heretofore, the divider strips for making these seams have comprised thin gauged metal strips positioned along that area of the floor structure in which a seam is desired with the terrazzo flooring material then being disposed on both sides thereof. Such arrangements did not facilitate any substantial degree of flexibility of the scam without damaging it. It has also been known to employ a pair of closely spaced, parallel strips which define a channel therebetween and which extend along the floor at the desired seam area with the terrazzo flooring material positioned along the outwardly facing sides of each strip. The area between the strips may then be filled with a rubber material or the like to complete the seam. Other similar arrangements have been known heretofore and which are directed to specific flooring installations. Typical examples of such prior art arrangements may be found in the Moody- 3,395,507 and Kamberg, et al.-3,555,759 United States patents. Various other arrangements combining some features of the prior arrangements have also been attempted; however, their use has met with particular problems as will hereinafter be discussed.

It has been found that it is oftentimes desirable to provide seams in terrazzo type flooring wherein the seams, once the divider members or strips are properly positioned, and the terrazzo flooring material has been poured, may be filled with a grout-like material to more desirably seal the seams. It has further been desired to allow for the use of color impregnated grout material in order to color coordinate the terrazzo floor structure. However, in employing the available prior art devices, these desires have often become frustrated due to the complexity of the prior divider structural members, that is, the number of individual component parts required to properly effect a single seam area during construction of a terrazzo floor. Moreover, the majority of the prior art devices could not be used in accomplishing the desired result and could not be modified to accomplish that result.

It will also be appreciated that in elongated, generally parallel seam areas of the type employed in terrazzo floor structures, it oftentimes becomes necessary to place at least two divider strip member lengths in an end to end abutting relationship in order to span the total length of the seam. Heretofore, when two or more lengths were required, they were merely placed in an aligned end to end abutting relationship and held in place by conventional mechanical fasteners. However, such end to end abutting mountings have been found extremely difficult to maintain in proper axial alignment during actual pouring of the terrazzo flooring ma terial. Substantial divider strip scrap and unsatisfactory appearing terrazzo floors have been the result. Trans verse misalignment in the finished product is particularly unsightly and vertical misalignment creates nonuniform strip thickness due to the grinding thereof when finishing the floor structure. This situation presents several undesired problems including that of creating later problems of spalling.

The present invention contemplates a new and improved article and method which overcomes all of the above referred to problems and others and provides a new divider strip and method of using same for particu lar application to terrazzo type floor structures, which divider strip and method of using are simple, economical and provide a degree of versatility heretofore unrealizable when using prior art strips and methods.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a construction divider for particular use in flooring structures wherein it is desired to include a plurality of narrow, spaced apart seam areas in at least the surface portion of the floor structure. Accordingly, the divider comprises an elongated thin walled, generally U-shaped body portion having a top wall and a pair of spaced apart legs which define an elongated channel. While the preferred embodiment of the divider has metal walls which are thin relative to the overall divider strip thickness, the thickness itself is not critical. A mounting flange extends generally normally outward from adjacent the distal end of at least one of the legs. Resilient means disposed in the channel effectively maintain the desired shape of the body portion and prevent foreign material from entering the channel during the construction period. These resilient means are selectively removable from within the channel following installation of the divider into the floor structure for replacement by a compressible or incompressible groutlike sealing material which may be color impregnated if desired. The color impregnation of the sealing material greatly assists in enhancing the asthetic value of the basic floor structure design or in creating color contrasts in addition to the design.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, both legs of the U-shaped body portion include a mounting flange at the distal ends thereof extending outwardly of the body portion.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, means are included in the divider member for positively desirably locating it relative to at least one identical associated divider member in an end to end abutting relationship.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a new joint arrangement for use in a floor structure of the type including at least one elongated, narrow seam area formed by elongated generally Ushaped divider members disposed in an abutting end to end relationship and wherein each divider member includes a top wall, a pair of spaced apart legs upstanding from the top wall and an outwardly extending mounting flange disposed adjacent the distal end of each leg. The joint comprises the axially adjacent, abutting divider members which establish the seam including interfitting portions at the abutting ends thereof wherein in the interfltted position, each divider member is prevented from moving relative to each other in the directions generally normal to the bottom wall and to the legs.

In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of forming an elongated narrow seam in a terrazzo type flooring structure. The method comprises the steps of:

a. providing an elongated generally U-shaped divider member;

b. positioning the divider member in an inverted condition on the base floor area where the seam is to be formed;

c. placing terrazzo flooring material along the divider on both sides thereof to a level substantially equal to the height of the divider; and,

d. selectively removing the top wall of the U-shaped divider member from its connection with the legs to expose a resilient material contained between the legs of the divider.

In accordance with yet a further aspect of the present invention, the method of forming a seam further includes the steps of removing the resilient material and filling the void created thereby with either a hard or resilient grout-like material.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of a new divider strip and method of using the same which are more readily adaptable to use in a variety of different terrazzo flooring structures to perfect seams therein.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a divider strip and method of using the same which reduce the number of component parts required to form seams for terrazzo type flooring structures in which color coordination of the seams may be easily effected.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a divider strip and method of using the same which facilitates ease of location and mounting of adjacent, abutting divider strips used in forming an elongated seam.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a divider strip which is easy to manufacture and method of using which is simple to employ.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a divider strip and method of using a resilient grout which facilitates movement of the terrazzo floor without causing damage to the seam.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangements of parts, a preferred embodiment which will be described in detail in the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the subject new divider member along with the subject new joint arrangement; and,

FIGS. 25 show the method of use of the divider member of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention only and not for purposes of limiting same, the Figures show a, divider member A mounted to a base flooring area B to define a seam in terrazzo flooring structure C.

More specifically, and with particular reference to FIG. 1, divider member A is comprised of a thin generally U-shaped channel or body portion 10 having a top wall 12 and parallel spaced apart side walls or legs 14,16 extending outwardly therefrom in a direction generally normal thereto. According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, top wall 12 and side walls or legs 14,16 define a generally rectangular shaped elongated channel area. Depending outwardly oppositely from each other adjacent the distal ends of side walls 14,16 are a pair of mounting flanges 18,20. These flanges extend generally parallel to top wall 12. Although the U-shaped channel or body portion 10 may be comprised of any number of materials, zinc, aluminum or brass have been found to be particularly acceptable. Also, a non-absorbent plastic material has been found to be acceptable.

A plurality of mounting holes 30 are disposed along the axial length of mounting flanges 18,20 to extend therethrough and the purpose for including these mounting holes, although deemed conventional, will become more readily apparent hereinafter. Although mounting holes 30 are employed in the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be appreciated that other mounting arrangements such as glue or epoxy may be employed without departing from the intent and scope of the invention. Side walls 14,16 each include a plurality of outwardly extending areuate projections 32 spaced along the axial length thereof for retaining the dividers in the terrazzo flooring material as will also hereinafter become apparent. These outwardly extending arcuate projections are deemed to be conventional in the art and each includes ends 34,36 with a center area 38 extending the furthest out from the respective side wall 14 or 16. Projections 32 are optional features and are merely one of several equivalent structures well known in the art.

Closely received in the channel area defined by the U-shaped member is a form retaining strip 50. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, this strip may be constructed from a resilient plastic material and primarily performs the dual function of retaining the desired shape for the U-shaped member and maintaining the channel area free and clear of foreign matter. Inasmuch as the wall thickness of walls 12,14,16 and mounting flanges 18,20 may, sometimes, only be of 14, 16 or 18 B and S (Browne and Sharpe) gage metal, they can easily and undesirably be bent or deformed so that they are not useable. Also, and during the construction period when the divider members are positioned on the floor structure, the form retaining strip functions to prevent dirt and even the terrazzo flooring material itself from undesirably entering the channel area. In addition to using a retaining strip 50 constructed from resilient plastic, the strip could be formed from other acceptable fillers such as, for example, a foamed type plastic or rubber.

[twill be appreciated that each divider member is an elongated element having the general basic construction hercinabove described. Reference will hereinafter be made to FIG. 1 and the joining of the two axially adjacent divider members 60,62. These two divider members are each identical with the other except for the end abutting area as will hereinafter be described. Accordingly, divider member 60 includes a top wall end edge 64, side wall or leg end edges 66,68 and mounting flange end edge 70. As will be seen from FIG. 1, leg end edges 66,68 extend inwardly into divider 60 from top wall end edge 64 and converge toward each other so as to define a receiving area and receiving angle a therebetween. Angle a, although capable of being any particular desired angle, in the preferred embodiment presently under discussion, is 90. Mounting flange end edge 70 then extends longitudinally angularly. outward from the connection of mounting flange 18 with side wall 14 to the distal end thereof. Again, although the angular disposition of this edge could be as desired, an angle of 45 relative to a line normal to side walls 14,16 is particularly desired. It will, of course, be appreciated that side wall 16 and mounting flange of divider member 60 include identical end edge configurations as just discussed with reference to side wall 14 and mounting flange l8.

Divider member 62 includes an interfitting design which is receivable in the arrangement hereinabove described with reference to divider member 60. That is, divider member 62 includes a top wall end edge 74 and side wall or leg end edges 76,78 protruding outwardly thereof. Leg end edges 76,78 converge toward each other at an angle equal to angle a so as to be closely received against end edges 66,68. Thus, in the preferred embodiment, the angle of convergence of edges 76,78 is equal to 90. Likewise, mounting flange 18 includes a mounting flange end edge 80 which is longitudinally angled back toward the main portion of the divider member itself. Again, and although this angle may be whatever degree desired, 45 from a line extending normal to side walls 14,16 is preferred in order that edges 70,80 will be closely received against each other. Of course, side wall 16 and mounting flange 20 of divider 62 include end edges corresponding to end edges 76,78 and 80 as just discussed.

With the arrangement hereinabove described, when it is desired to place two divider members similar to divider members 60,62 in an end to end abutting relationship, the close interfitting relationship between all the leg end edges 66,68 and 76,78 as well as all mounting flange end edges 70 and 80 prevent relative movement between divider member 60,62 in the directions end to end abutting relationship as described abovevon a terrazzo flooring structure base 86 of the conven' tional type comprised of, for example, wood or concrete. Conventional mechanical fasteners 88 are received through mounting holes 30 in divider members 60,62 and extend into base 86 to rigidly retain divider members 60,62 in a desired position. It should be particularly noted that form retaining strip 50 acts to protect the channel defined by the divider members from being deformed or damaged and from becoming clogged with any undesirable foreign matter. Again, while mounting holes 30 and fasteners 88 are illustrated, it is clear that other means such as adhesives are reasonable alterations.

Once all the divider members are installed as would be required in the particular terrazzo flooring structure desired, the terrazzo floor itself generally shown by numerals 90,92 may be poured or laid in the conventional manner. Inasmuch as the characteristics of terrazzo flooring material and the laying of a terrazzo floor are deemed conventional and well known in the art, further elaboration will not be made herein. It should be appreciated that the depth of terrazzo flooring 90,92 is substantially equal to the height of top wall 12 of divider members 60,62 from terrazzo floor base 86. It should be noted, however, that the arrangement shown in FIGS. 2-5 is merely for one portion of an overall terrazzo floor structure.

, Referring now to FIG. 3, and following setting of terrazzo flooring portions 90,92, top wall 12 for each divider member 60,62 is conveniently removed by grindnormal to bottom wall 12 and normal to side walls rangement on both ends thereof for interfitting and locking with another end divider member similar to divider 60.

ing it away from its association with walls 14,16 to thus expose form retaining strip 50 as shown in the FIG- URES. The grinding required for this top wall removal is easily effected during the normal smoothing and polishing steps utilized in polishing the marble and matrix components which comprise the terrazzo floor portions 90,92 themselves.

As shown in FIG. 4, form retaining strip 50 is then removed from its close fitting association with side walls 14,16 thus exposing an open channel 94 defined by side walls 14,16 and the portion of terrazzo floor base 86 disposed therebetween.

Finally, and with reference to FIG. 5, a conventional grout-like material 96 may be placed in channel 94 by using a conventional dispenser 98 in order to complete the seam. Preferably, this grout-like material comprises a portland or resin type of grout and may either be color impregnated to color coordinate the overall floor structure or plain, depending on the particular color scheme desired. For best results, this grout material is compressible in nature when needed to accommodate expansion and contraction between the various seams in the overall flooring structure. However, where such expansion and contraction are not a problem, hard or incompressible grout-like material may be employed. An alternative to this arrangement would be to employ the final desired seam color in the form retaining strip 50 so as to eliminate the final step of inserting a groutlike material 96 in channel 94 once top wall 12 has been removed. In this arrangement, the seam is completed once the top wall 12 has been removed and terrazzo flooring 90,92 polished. Of course, the above described steps are repeated for each seam to be included whether the desired seam pattern be, for example. checkboard, parallel or random.

An alternative to the above divider structure is found by eliminating one of mounting flanges 18,20 and merely extending the associated side wall 14 or 16 length so as to extend beyond the remaining mounting flange. This arrangement facilitates positioning the divider in fresh or wet concrete with the extended length side passing into the concrete itself. Although the concepts of this alternative arrangement are the same as the arrangement hereinabove previously described. this alternative provides a slightly varied mounting and positioning structure.

The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment. Obviously. modifications and alterations will occur to others upon the reading and understanding of this specification. It is my intention to include all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

Having thus described my invention, 1 now claim:

1. In a floor structure of the type including at least one elongated seam area therein formed by at least two elongated generally U-shaped dividers each having a top wall, a pair of spaced apart side walls outwardly extending from said top wall and a mounting flange disposed adjacent the distal end of at least one of said walls so as to extend outwardly therefrom with said two dividers being disposed in an end to end abutting relationship with said mounting flanges being disposed on the same side of said seam area, a joint for positively locating said dividers relative to each other, said joint comprising:

said two dividers including closely interfitting means thereon at the abutting ends thereof for preventing undesired movement of said dividers relative to each other in the directions generally normal to said bottom wall and said side walls,

Lil

one of said dividers having its side walls protruding longitudinally outward beyond its top wall with each of the sidewalls converging to a terminal end point so as to define an angle therebetween; and, said at least one mounting flange of said one divider angularly diverging from the area of connection with said one side wall toward the outer distal end thereof;

the other of said dividers having its top wall protruding longitudinally outward beyond its side walls with its side walls converging inwardly into said other divider to a terminal end point so as to define an angle therebetween; and

said at least one mounting flange angularly diverging from the area of connection with said one side wall toward the outer distal end thereof, the corresponding locating means of said one and said other dividers being closely received against each other when said dividers are in an end to end abutting relationship.

2. The joint as defined in claim 1 wherein said one divider at least one mounting flange diverges angularly generally longitudinally back into said one divider and said other divider at least one mounting flange diverges generally longitudinally outwardly from said other divider.

3. The joint as defined in claim 2 wherein each of said dividers includes a mounting flange at the distal end of both side walls, said mounting flanges extending generally oppositely outward from each other.

4. The joint as defined in claim 3 wherein said angles of said converging side walls of both said one and said other dividers are approximately and said diverging flanges of both said one and said other dividers define diverging angles of approximately 45 with a line extending generally normal to said side walls. 

1. In a floor structure of the type including at least one elongated seam area therein formed by at least two elongated generally U-shaped dividers each having a top wall, a pair of spaced apart side walls outwardly extending from said top wall and a mounting flange disposed adjacent the distal end of at least one of said walls so as to extend outwardly therefrom with said two dividers being disposed in an end to end abutting relationship with said mounting flanges being disposed on the same side of said seam area, a joint for positively locating said dividers relative to each other, said joint comprising: said two dividers including closely interfitting means thereon at the abutting ends thereof for preventing undesired movement of said dividers relative to each other in the directions generally normal to said bottom wall and said side walls, one of said dividers having its side walls protruding longitudinally outward beyond its top wall with each of the sidewalls converging to a terminal end point so as to define an angle therebetween; and, said at least one mounting flange of said one divider angularly diverging from the area of connection with said one side wall toward the outer distal end thereof; the other of said dividers having its top wall protruding longitudinally outward beyond its side walls with its side walls converging inwardly into said other divider to a terminal end point so as to define an angle therebetween; and said at least one mounting flange angularly diverging from the area of connection with said one side wall toward the outer distal end thereof, the corresponding locating means of said one and said other dividers being closely received against each other when said dividers are in an end to end abutting relationship.
 2. The joint as defined in claim 1 wherein said one divider at least one mounting flange diverges angularly generally longitudinally back into said one divider and said other divider at least one mounting flange diverges generally longitudinally outwardly from said other divider.
 3. The joint as defined in claim 2 wherein each of said dividers includes a mounting flange at the distal end of both side walls, said mounting flanges extending generally oppositely outward from each other.
 4. The joint as defined in claim 3 wherein said angles of said converging side walls of both said one and said other dividers are approximately 90* and said diverging flanges of both said one and said other dividers define diverging angles of approximately 45* with a line extending generally normal to said side walls. 